2004-05-20
Budget 2004-05 – Department of Health and Community Services
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH
On Tuesday, when members were becoming aware of the massive overspend by the Department of Health and Community Services of $50m, your CEO, Mr Robert Griew, sent out an e-mail to his hundreds of staff members crowing that:
- … one good piece of news for us as an organisation is that we’re on track to come in on budget this year - the first time this has happened in ten years I’m told!
I seek leave to table a copy of the e-mail.
Leave granted.
Ms CARTER: Minister, your CEO has overseen the spending of an additional $44m blow-out since the Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report, which was tabled here in February. Was this e-mail a deliberate attempt to mislead our hard-working health staff?
Mr Henderson: Why are you attacking public servants? This is outrageous!
Ms CARTER: Because he wrote the e-mail.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question because it will give me a chance to clear up all this claptrap that you are spreading around. Let us describe how the budget works. First of all, in the budget, at the start of the financial year, a projected budget is given to each of our agencies. During the year, a lot of unforseen things can happen. Decisions are made by Cabinet that will, in some cases, launch new initiatives and, in others, respond to things that have happened within the system. That is absolutely normal for the implementation of a budget process through each of our agencies. That is why, as the Treasurer said yesterday, there is a Treasurer’s Advance - so we can deal with unforseen funding demands coming out of any of our agencies.
Let us clear up this amount that you are talking about. I presume you have gone to the last budget papers, and you have seen a figure of $461m as the projected expenditure for the current financial year. In the current budget papers, there is a projected final outcome for our agency of $611.7m. You have said: ‘Oh, we will take one from the other and it means there is $50m that has blown out’.
I will tell you where that $50m went on to the budget, and I will give you some detail on this so that you can see that this is not a blow-out, it is a planned series of decisions and responses to the environment in which the agency is carrying out its work of delivering services.
Here is how the difference between those two amounts is comprised: new initiatives - $2.1m; carry-overs, a normal thing for an agency to carry over liabilities from the previous year - $8.1m; nurses and doctors EBAs - we did not know what the outcome of negotiations would be, as the Treasurer said yesterday - $8.3m additional to the 3% that was included in the forward estimates; accounting adjustments, which are going on throughout government involving the charging structures of DCIS - $21.5m. a one-off item to establish a different relationship by which DCIS charges out to the different agencies, and applies to all of the agencies; administrative variations, changes in the timing and amounts of known Commonwealth grants - $5.6m; Commonwealth Grants Housing for Health expenditure - $2.7m; and adjustments to the Australian Health Care Agreement - $1.9m. Add all that up and that is the difference between your two totals.
That is not a blow-out, it is simply a response to the environment in which the agency is working. Every one of those amounts has been approved and authorised through Treasury processes. There is no unplanned or unauthorised spending within the department. There is no blow-out.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Do you mind? Members of the opposition – member for Brennan, order!
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise that we have schoolchildren in the gallery from Adelaide River. Years 5, 6, and 7, are accompanied by their teacher, Jane Allen. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a warm welcome.
Members Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Now, let us show them that you can behave.
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Budget 2004-05 – Education Funding
Budget 2004-05 – Education Funding
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
When the government came to office, it pledged to introduce a range of immediate extra resources into schools and the education system. Can the minister please advise the House how Budget 2004 brings those additional resources into place?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. I am delighted to answer that, and to see that we have student representatives from all the way down at Adelaide River here with us today.
Improved education has been a priority for this government since coming to office in August 2001. We determined very early to make significant injections of funds into key education resources, and this budget puts into effect the final stages of the provisional funding. One hundred extra teachers was the commitment we made prior to the August 2001 election. The final 40 will come into place during this financial year 2004-05.
Eleven of these 40 will be dedicated to behaviour management. It has been an area of concern right across the system, and it is an issue that comes repeatedly from the AEU as well. They are pretty pleased, I believe, that we are putting in place 11 specialists across this broad area of behaviour management.
Seven specialist sport and physical education teachers will be put in place. They will be attached to the clusters, both for the delivery of sport and PE within the schools. They will visit the schools, and be on hand to help organise school competitions and regional meets between schools, and also be able to assist those students in selection for Territory teams. We are strengthening our sport and physical education services out into the regions.
Ten are allocated for accelerated literacy, and I have talked before in the Assembly about the strength of that program and how it is able to pick up slow readers and accelerate them to the extent, on average, of 1.75 years reading ability in just one year. It is a terrific program and we are pleased to further accelerate that.
Three will be for the Capability Development Unit in Central Australia. For the remaining nine, we will have discussions with stakeholders across the system, including the union before we allocate them.
We are also continuing the Student Bursary for Teacher Education Scheme, designed to encourage people to take up teaching at Charles Darwin University, and emphasis on English as a second language in remote area teaching. We have been allocating 20 each year at the rate of $12 000 for each recipient. They are terrific evenings here in parliament, when those recipients who are available come in and get their certificate for their bursary. It has been a great way of bringing locals into the system who, we would hope, would be here for the long haul and less likely to move.
Alternative education provision and the employment of eight school attendance officers are two of the other initiatives that we are seeing come on board. The alternative education systems set up in Palmerston and Darwin were designed to engage those students around about the ages of 15 to 19 who have dropped out of school, disengaged from the system and causing problems. We have a mobile team of five teachers operating in the northern suburbs and Palmerston. The attendance officers I am particularly proud of, and the efforts they have made. They are already well established in Alice Springs, Palmerston and Sanderson. We now have an attendance officer in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Wadeye, and they are bringing back into education quite solid numbers of students who, as I have said, were disengaged and roaming the streets. It is good to see that initiative paying off.
Across the board, these initiatives have been successful. They will cost an additional $3.5m in 2004-05, but it is all about moving the Territory ahead, both for now and into the future, and we are proud of each one of those.
Inappropriate Internet Site Access by Primary School Students
Dr LIM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Opposition members are alarmed to learn that primary students have easily accessed pornographic Internet sites whilst at school. Minister, are you aware of this? What have you done about it? Why have you remained silent on this issue of obvious concern to Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I certainly share his concern, but for me to try and get on the front page and talk about this is not quite the right thing that you would want to do in these circumstances. The fact that it has happened once - in fact, perhaps more than once - is a concern. I do not want to be advertising the fact that it has happened at all. The thing is to find out how and why it occurred, and put in whatever systems we can to stop it.
DEET’s Information Technology Services Branch implemented a centrally controlled content filtering system way back in March 2002, that is applied to all Northern Territory government schools and is regularly updated. In addition to those processes DEET implemented in June 2002, they have enabled school-based content filtering system as well. The Internet and e-mail are important, valuable teaching tools used every day in classrooms right across our school system. However, it is possible that students may, on occasion, accidentally gain access to inappropriate material. That is why DEET went ahead and implemented these security systems as early as they did.
Content filters themselves are technological tools that have been developed to sort and block access to any undesirable material on the Internet. However, they themselves, and no technology, replaces the need for guidance and supervision of our students when they are using computers in the school environment. It is not the intention to impose a totally restrictive service, but we have to ensure that risks for students are minimised and, where we can, reduce the opportunity for exposure to this sort of unsuitable and, I would say, harmful material in the case the member is referring to.
The content filtering service has been implemented. It prohibits access to inappropriate material, based initially on the category into which a page falls. Schools also have the capability of further filtering it by placing in specific key words and/or web addresses they know are inappropriate sites that they would not want students getting access to. An obvious category is pornography, racism, chat, criminal skills, cults, dating, gambling, gambling games, hate speech and sex. They are all filtered quite easily, because you just capture the key essence in the word itself – they are blocked. However, it is not an extensive list. A way can be found through all technological tools of this nature, depending on the expertise, I suppose, of the particular individual.
Therefore, I would ask if anyone anywhere in the Northern Territory education community is able to access a site, or knows that an unsuitable or harmful site has been accessed, they really should contact Information Technology Services inside the department immediately so that further blocking or closing down of access to that site can be made.
Whilst we have these technological tools, they are not perfect. I do not know that any system is. I am not fully literate across all of these areas. None of these systems themselves take away the requirement and the responsibility of the classroom teacher for due diligence. That is where the responsibility still lies, no matter what technological tools you have in place. For those supervising students in the use of the Internet, their responsibilities are not reduced in any way. Teachers in all schools are asked to reinforce appropriate use with students each year, and reinforce the agreements outlined in the acceptable use policy, which is signed by students and parents.
Notwithstanding that this has occurred, DEET is proactive in its protection of students from accessing these inappropriate sites, and is considered more restrictive, probably, than many other jurisdictions because of its regularly updated systemic blocking practices, and the additional facilities for schools to block additional sites that they become aware of. All I can say is, the system is not perfect. I do not know that it ever will be, but it is something that we as a government, and the department, takes enormously seriously and we share your concerns.
Adelaide River – Closure to Commercial Barramundi Fishing
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Could you please advise the Assembly when the closure of the Adelaide River - and I acknowledge the students from Adelaide River here today - to commercial barramundi netting will be implemented. It is an issue that is dear to the hearts of many of the Territory’s recreational fishermen, including the many fishermen who live in Karama and Malak.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. I am very pleased to answer this question, because the member for Daly has been asking all week about something that has happened at Adelaide River and he is about to get his answer.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: And the member for Goyder, yes, because we will have plenty of time for fishing.
I am very happy to announce that the Adelaide River will be closed to commercial barramundi fishing on 1 July 2004. It is great news for Territorians, tour operators, tourists and AFANT. A few minutes ago, when I announced it publicly, you could not wipe the smile off John Harrison’s face, the executive officer of AFANT, who was present and is now in the gallery.
1 July 2004 is the first day after the end of the commercial fishery licensing year. I made an offer to buy a full 10 unit commercial barramundi licence from an existing operator, and also I made an ex gratia payment to a person who historically fishes on Daly River to assist him to relocate.
This decision was not made in isolation. The government did not make the unilateral decision. We actually put this proposal to the Aquatic Users Group Forum. They considered it. They came back to us with a number or recommendations. I proceeded with the recommendations.
Mr Maley: It took you three years.
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, the member for Goyder said it took time. That is true, and the reason for that is that the Aquatic Users Group Forum considered it and that took some time. They had to make an offer to commercial barramundi fishermen and they had to consider the position before they agree or disagree with the proposal.
I am very pleased to say that the Adelaide River will be closed to commercial barramundi fishing from 1 July, and that is great news for the amateur fishermen.
For the first time ever, commercial, indigenous and recreational fishers reached agreement on the circumstances under which a river shall be closed to commercial barramundi fishing. The future of our fisheries are very important for us to simply gamble away days before the election. We certainly were not going to proceed unilaterally, in keeping with the previous government when they decided four days before the election in 2001 to close McArthur River. They said that they consulted with the industry. However, unfortunately, the Northern Territory Seafood Council Chairman, Mr Nigel Scullion, said they had failed to consult with the industry. Mr Scullion said:
- I was in Jabiru and the Treasurer, Mike Reed, rang and told me that the government was going to make the announcement. That was not consultation. It was like being told the whole family has a terminal illness.
We do not believe with that; we believe in consultation. We consulted with the users, including the commercial fishermen. We have accepted the recommendation, we bought a commercial licence and now we are closing the Daly River. Again, I invite all the stakeholders to get together with the department to develop a 10-year plan for the barramundi fishery now that the river is being closed. I am pleased to say that we have had some positive responses.
Barramundi fishing is not only a favourite pastime of Territorians but also of many tourists. They come to the Territory in the Dry Season, to enjoy our great Territory lifestyle, our rivers and barramundi fishing. When I was at the Barra Nationals, people from down south were amazed at the quality of the rivers and of the natural environment. Our rivers even had water, some of them commented. I suppose when comparing it to the Murray, certainly the Daly has much more water than the Murray. It is great news for Territorians, and for fishermen. I am looking forward to going to the Daly River with Mr Harrison one day.
NT Open Education Centre – Proposed Closure
Dr LIM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Your Secondary Education Review recommends the closure of the Northern Territory Open Education Centre, a recommendation opposed by the CLP. Why are you contemplating closing the centre when it has successfully produced several of our top NTCE students each year, with four students in the top 20 last year, and 13 students achieving perfect scores of 20/20 for Stage 1 courses? 80% of indigenous students starting Stage 2 courses achieved satisfactory results, and both indigenous and non-indigenous students were, on average, high achievers when compared across the Territory. Will you pledge your support for the Open Education Centre and commit to not closing it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. In the first part of his question he makes an incorrect assumption; that is, that this government, or myself or the department, have made a firm decision to close NTOEC. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have refused to be drawn on any of the 52 recommendations appearing in the front of the report, the same as I have refused to be drawn on any of the other recommendations inside the chapters of the report that do not appear in the body of the 52 recommendations up-front.
For me to say we are going to accept 28, 30, 32 and reject the rest would be, (1) to pre-empt the process of public consultation, which we are serious about and (2) undermine that whole process of being less than genuine in seeking the views of the Northern Territory school community.
The shadow minister makes some points about the achievement rates of students in latter years, and that is true. There have been some good results.
The fact is, though, the report itself does not actually say close it. What it means is a shifting and a remodelling because, in the Northern Territory, given the dispersion of our population and those remote and rural kids, particularly on rural properties and stations, we are still going to have to have some form of distance education provision. It may not be in the form of NTOEC and how it operates now, but there will still be a need for that service, otherwise what do those students do? What is pointed out as well is that 7% of the total cohort of NTOEC now is rural, remote, indigenous students. It has also shown that distance education is not an effective model of delivery of education for these students; they do need up-front. teaching.
The growing sophistication of technology and the reducing price over time means that something like the service NTOEC delivers will become a stronger part of education in the future, particularly where you have small groups of students in specialist subject areas. It is a real tool that can be used.
However, for the government to be accused of having made a decision in the face of the public consultation process that we are going through is quite wrong, and no decision has been made on any one of those recommendations.
When I addressed the Northern Territory Education Union and COGSO on the same day at their annual conferences a few weeks ago, I perceived that there were similar views, not helped by some staff of NTOEC wearing T-shirts saying ‘Why are we still here’, which I thought was pretty negative and a pretty defensive attitude to adopt.
We are serious about the public process of consultation to this point. The union itself was saying: ‘Look, we have a busy term’, and they spelt out the work that they had in front of them, and that the end of July was tight in order to get all views in from those individuals who wanted to respond.
I was not taken at the time, but I said I would listen to them, and to other stakeholders, in view of that time frame. It has become clear, through the department itself, that there are a couple of areas for which they will need extra time so, at the moment, we are extending that time frame for the public process of consultation by a couple of weeks. Rather than the end of July, it will go through to about the middle of August, so there is an extra fortnight. It will set the whole process back a couple of weeks, but I am less concerned about that than getting qualitative information and views in on all of these issues.
Let me reiterate, in closing, no decision has been made. You can say it as often as you like. This government, this minister, has not made a decision about any one of those 52 recommendations until we hear, loudly and clearly, the views of all the stakeholders - students, teachers, union, mums and dads, school councils, COGSO and AEU. Let us get all of those views in about the recommendations and we go forward from there.
Small Business Sentiment
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
My views on how we are helping out small business are well known in the House today, minister, but will the Business minister please update the Assembly on recent indicators regarding business sentiment in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. He demonstrated again today in debate on the Uncollected Goods Bill what a great supporter he is of small business in the Northern Territory.
There is no doubt that business has been doing it tough in the Territory since 1999-2000. What is clear is that, whilst not all businesses are picking up in a uniform way, there is a genuine trend out there now seeing business moving ahead and confidence growing. There is growing optimism around. Just two days ago, before the record business tax cuts were announced in the budget, the Chamber of Commerce released its Business Expectation Survey for the last quarter, which found that business performed better in the last quarter than expected; that business performed better than at the same time last year; that general business conditions were up; and that employment figures and total sales revenue were up. That was two days before the biggest tax breaks for small business that the Territory has every seen, were delivered by my colleague, the Treasurer, a couple of days ago. Business confidence is on the way up.
At the TCA breakfast this morning, my colleague, the infrastructure minister gave a presentation to people in the construction industry. The construction industry is up. In fact, one steel supplier advised my colleague that they are having the best year this year - certainly for the last four years, maybe for the last 10. Some of it was related to the LNG plant, but a lot of it was going towards the general construction industry. Talking to the centre managers at Lend Lease a few weeks ago - and I know my colleague, the member for Casuarina, had the same conversation with them - the operators out there have 8% month on month compounding growth. They are very happy at Casuarina at the moment. There is another retail proprietor in the northern suburbs who came to see me in my office the other day, who has pre-committed 3500 m2 of retail space before the buildings have even gone up.
I recognise that some people are still doing it tough, but investment is going in and confidence is building. It will build even more as a result of the budget. Compare this with what the Opposition Leader had to say in his budget reply and censure motion yesterday. We all have a responsibility in this House to call it as it is, and certainly we all have a responsibility to the economy of the Northern Territory and to encourage confidence and investment. Compare the genuine approval that the business community has given this budget, and the Chamber of Commerce’s survey a couple of days ago, with what the Opposition Leader had to say. He stood in front of the rabble around him yesterday in the Chamber and said: ‘Look around you, the place is in ruins’. If that is not the most irresponsible, negligible thing to say in this parliament, I do not know what is. I quoted extensively yesterday from Sue Shearer, talking about real estate prices going through the roof, that vacancy rates in Darwin and Palmerston in houses and units are at their lowest rate since 1996. The Opposition Leader, absolutely in a world of his own, is saying, ‘Look around you, the place is in ruins’.
I quote from Hansard on the same day where he announced what my colleague, the Treasurer, said yesterday were dangerous words for the Leader of the Opposition: ‘The burden of taxation now falls on too few members in our community’. Too few members in our community! What that code for the CLP policy means is more people are going to have to pay tax, because too few people are paying tax now shouldering this burden.
This statement, along with the mishmash of uncosted mutterings – Play School economics that we saw yesterday - is proof positive that the CLP are planning to introduce a land tax in the Northern Territory. Uncosted promises that would cost, on the bottom line, tens of millions of dollars is not a policy, it is Play School economics. This policy is all over the place. We had the announcements of uncosted policies yesterday and, just six weeks ago on an interview with Trevor Scott on Tuesday, 30 March, this is how the policy debate is going in the CLP at the moment, and I will quote the Leader of the Opposition:
- But really, behind the scenes is Peter Costello getting onto state Treasurers and saying: ‘For goodness sake, make your move on state taxes like payroll tax, …
Well, we did that a couple of days ago:
- … stamp duty …
Well, we did that in the last budget:
- … and BAD tax …
We made the move on that.
- … you’ve got to do it otherwise the Treasurer is going to start having to act. They are in receipt of $400m additional, over and above what the CLP would have had at this time of their time in office.
Trevor Scott says:
- So the CLP is saying that they would drop these taxes immediately …
The word from the Leader of the Opposition:
Absolutely.
Here we have the Leader of the Opposition committing, just six weeks ago, that they are going to scrap payroll tax, what does that come in at, Treasurer, about $90m a year? Scrap stamp duty in the Northern Territory, scrap the BAD tax, and we had revisions on that just the other day. Play School economics - everything uncosted and policy all over the place.
No wonder the member for Goyder has had enough and has said: ‘I am out of here’. We know the member for Goyder. He is vitally interested in small business, and he can sniff a future out there. The member for Goyder can see the good times are coming and he can make far more money in the Northern Territory under a Labor government out there in small business joining in on rebounding confidence. He is off, he is out of here! A great vote of no confidence in either the CLP or its current leader. I am with the member for Goyder in a vote of confidence in the economy and for small business, because he is going to participate in the confidence that is recurring in the Northern Territory. One thing is for sure: the Territory and business is growing in confidence. The Territory is not in ruins; it is the dog’s breakfast opposite that is in ruins.
Whilst I am on my feet, I would like the Opposition Leader to advise - and I go back to the $50 policy search that was released a few months ago. Can he advise who in the CLP has won the $50 in their desperate search for a policy - any policy? Because certainly their taxation policies that they have announced are not worth the $50 that they put out there looking for a policy.
Lake Bennett Landowners - Compensation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
My question is about the Lake Bennett mediation process. You have asked some landowners to sign a deed of settlement which resulted from the mediation process. In that deed of settlement, the government admits that the recreation easement around the lake was subdivided and developed without the consent of the releasors, and that was backed by a court order. The government now intends to pay compensation to the landowners. Will this compensation cover not only the full legal costs incurred, as well as pain and hardship, and other associated financial losses also incurred by landowners who have had to fight for their rights for more than two years in the courts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, members in the House know this has been a real saga. It goes back to the 1990s. I can see Ted Field up in the gallery. I am sure he can tell you even more than I can in the short time that I will take to answer this question.
To reacquaint members, in the 1990s, there was an administrative error by the Registrar-General. That error was compounded by a legislative anomaly at the time. The legislative anomaly was rectified by the former government by way of an amendment to the Real Property (Unit Titles) Act, effective from 20 May 1998.
This situation has resulted in several long-standing cases before the courts, some of which are still on foot. This has resulted in an impasse whereby the development cannot proceed, and individual unit titles remain subject to recreational easements. This government has been concerned to settle this litigation and, more importantly, to provide certainty for the title for all land-holders in Lake Bennett.
In mid-2002, we appointed an independent mediator to attempt to help the parties find a solution to the problem. The mediation has certainly established the basis for a solution to this situation, based on a compromise by the various parties in talking about their interests. Cabinet has agreed to consider implementation of the parties’ compromise by legislation, and legislation is being prepared for the purpose of consultation with the parties. The Territory would prefer a negotiated outcome to claims against it, and hopes to reach agreement with all affected easement holders before legislation is introduced here.
The Solicitor for the Northern Territory has distributed a draft bill amongst the parties as the basis for discussion and settlement of individual claims. The bill was distributed on the basis that it was confidential between the parties. The confidentiality aspect was in recognition that the draft bill was not a public document at that stage but, rather, a discussion draft for the purpose of settling the individual interests of the parties. The status of the bill as confidential did not restrict parties from obtaining advice from legal or other advisors on the content of the bill. The discussion bill was distributed to 18 easement holders, the body corporate, and 48 individual unit holders, the liquidator of City Developments, the ANZ Bank, and the Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort. The Solicitor for the Northern Territory has instructions to negotiate individual settlements with affected land-holders and easement holders. To date, one settlement has been finalised, and others are close to finalisation.
Metis Consulting – Certificate of Exemption
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Two certificates of exemption have been issued to the Metis review for the Fire and Rescue Service, so that Metis Consulting group did not have to go through the normal tendering processes to do the review. The value of those contracts was $357 000. Did you authorise the certificate of exemption, and if you did not, who did?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for his question. The Metis review was the single most important review of the Fire Service that has ever occurred in the Northern Territory. It is a review that has really delivered results to the government, and to people of the Fire Service. I am very pleased to advise honourable members that Mr Bruce Mouatt, who is now heading up the Fire Service, is well advanced in implementing the review.
As far as the certificate of exemption goes, that was conducted entirely within the provisions of the Procurement Act. It was a decision made by the Police Commissioner in heading up the tri-service. A number of companies were asked to bid for that particular consultancy, not just one company,. In conjunction with discussions with the Office of Public Employment, it was determined Metis Consulting were the most appropriate people to sign off on that certificate of exemption.
In regard to whether I personally signed off on the certificate of exemption, I will have to take advice on that. I cannot recall. I am happy to get back before close of Question Time today in terms of whether I signed off. However, if I did, it would have been on the recommendation of the Police Commissioner and the Commissioner of Public Employment. I will get back and advise.
Budget 2004-05 – Environment Initiatives
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGEThe Territory has a unique environment that supports our great lifestyle and important industry such as tourism. How will Budget 2004-05 support environment initiatives, improve our lifestyle, and create opportunities for people in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for a great question. The Territory lifestyle is unique and, without doubt, the best in Australia.
Territorians love their fishing and camping. They love walking on the beach and going for family picnics ...
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Don’t you do all of these things? Don’t you just love that, the Territory lifestyle? Or just heading out bush?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, just cease. As soon as this minister gets on her feet, it seems to be the tendency of the opposition to start yelling at her. I suggest you allow her to speak without interruption.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They always say that we have a go at the member for Greatorex when he is on his feet. The member for Drysdale needs to think about stopping being a hypocrite when he sits over there.
To continue, we would not have this great lifestyle without the clean air, water, land and healthy ecosystems ...
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Oh, I would not talk to that dill!
The Martin Labor government is committed ...
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will look at you, Madam Speaker, because they are provocative on the other side.
Madam SPEAKER: Don’t you be provocative.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: The Martin Labor government is committed to balancing economic growth with protecting the very environment upon which our Territory lifestyle depends. This is a budget that does just this. It is a budget that will deliver less tax, more jobs and a fantastic, great lifestyle. It is a budget that ensures that we have the programs in place to protect our natural and cultural assets, which are central to our unique lifestyle.
Our environment sustains our lifestyle, but it also sustains some very important industries, such as tourism. Our environment supports tourism and it supports more jobs. This budget is full of unprecedented money for the environment. This year, $6.1m will be spent on programs by the Environment and Heritage Office, up by over $1m from last year, a 20% increase in one year.
The Territory is awash with new economic developments. $800 000 will be spent by the office on environmental assessment and compliance activities. This very important work ensures that the developments coming on line are sustainable and our lifestyle is protected.
Many organisations in the community also work very hard to protect and enhance the environment upon which our lifestyle depends. I am, therefore, very pleased to announce that this budget will provide more than $0.5m in grants to environmental organisations across the Territory. This is an increase of $200 000. This comes on top of $250 000 to be spent on litter and recycling grants, and $330 000 for heritage grants and support of the National Trust. All up, over $1m is to be spent supporting grassroots initiatives by environment and heritage organisations.
Our heritage properties are an important part of tourism and lifestyle. This budget will see $1m allocated for repairs and maintenance to heritage properties. That is a dedicated spend that simply did not exist under the former government. It also means $1m for tradesmen and small contractors across the Territory - more jobs.
Our parks and reserves also play a very important role in our tourism industry, and this budget delivers important improvements. $1m will be spent on new works to upgrade visitor facilities at Gregory National Park and Limmen National Park - more jobs, and more to our great lifestyle.
Conserving and protecting, and being proud of our Territory environment and heritage, is an investment for the future. Government is investing more than $90m in the environment, parks and heritage because this government has long-term plans that keep the Territory moving ahead.
Metis Consulting - Report Authors
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The people who make up Metis Consulting appear to have no history in the emergency services area at all. Susan Harben’s claim to fame is that she organised the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for several years, and Chris Gration was head of the AIDS Council in NSW and had a credit union background.
As you know, Metis is made up of two individuals: Susan Harben, the former Labor candidate for the seat of Bligh in NSW, and Chris Gration, a former adviser to Labor Senator Graham Richardson. Minister, what made this consulting firm so attractive for the government to by-pass all the normal tendering processes so that this particular organisation could get the job? Were you aware at the time the certificate of exemption was signed and issued that both people who make up the consultation group had ties to the Labor party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, to answer the last part of the question first, the answer is absolutely not.
Mr Elferink: Of course not!
Mr HENDERSON: The opposition try to bore in conspiracy theories and the web of intrigue and deceit. They are always looking for a conspiracy theory, and are always attacking public servants. We saw it again today from the member for Port Darwin, who attacked the CEO of the Health department. We have seen the Leader of the Opposition attacking the CEO of PowerWater recently.
In my time in the Northern Territory, where there has always been bipartisan support for Police Commissioners, there has been an unprecedented series of attacks since the first day that our commissioner arrived in the Northern Territory. He is doing an absolutely magnificent job in presiding over a new era in our police force, our fire and emergency services, and reducing crime throughout the Northern Territory, and the opposition continues to attack.
As I said in answer to the first question, the decision in regards to selecting Metis Consulting was a decision of the Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory. A number of firms were asked to quote on this particular consultancy, and the Police Commissioner, without reference to my office - and I am waiting for advice on who signed off on the CofE. I do not recall, but we will drag that CofE out. Certainly the Police Commissioner’s signature would have been on it as head of the tri-service, and it was his decision as to who to engage. If the member for Macdonnell wants to drag the Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory into some political conspiracy, that is a direct attack on his integrity. They have done nothing but attack his integrity since the day he came to the Northern Territory, and it is absolutely outrageous.
Members interjecting.
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Daly!
Mr HENDERSON: In regards to the links to the Labor Party, I can say, just off the top of my head, we have just engaged a great Territorian, with links, through his father, an ex-CLP minister. Mr Simon Manzie has just shot the police ads that we can see in the Territory.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Isn’t this a great conspiracy, that anybody who has ever worked with, or is associated to a political party, somehow, should be barred from government contracts. If anyone wanted to …
A member: Mark Textor, he was local.
Mr HENDERSON: … delve into the murky past, the Mark Textor debacle, where the local …
Mr Stirling: Mark Textor – the local with merit.
Mr HENDERSON: The local with merit, absolutely! ... politically polling, on behalf of the previous government. If that was ever the height of arrogance in terms of certificates of exemptions, well, that was it!
I will obtain advice in terms of the ultimate signature under the CofE, but I will say that who made the decision in regards to engaging Metis Consulting ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: It may have been when the member for Daly was in office - it certainly was when they were in government - that every consultancy, every tender, was signed off in the minister’s office. Well, it does not happen under this government. We have highly professional CEOs who make these decisions, which the opposition, unprecedented in the Westminster system, continue to attack. I will get back with whose signature it was, ultimately. However, I can say that the decision was made by the Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory, and I urge members opposite to stop attacking his integrity.
Mr ELFERINK: A supplementary, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No, the minister has said he will get back to us with your answer.
Budget 2004-05 – Community Facilities
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for ETHNIC AFFAIRS
I have many constituents from ethnic backgrounds - Karama and Malak have the highest density in the Territory - and they are very interested to see what the budget contains in assistance to community groups to upgrade their facilities. Would you please advise the House?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. The Territory is one of the most multicultural sites in Australia. What is different in the Territory to other states, where people from these similar ethnic backgrounds tend to live together, like the Greeks with the Greeks, the Chinese with the Chinese, and they do not intermingle is that, here in the Territory, people of different culture and ethnic background live, in the main, in the same neighbourhood, in the same block of units, harmoniously. My child attends Year 10 at Darwin High School. If you heard his rollcall, it sounds like the United Nations instead of a Year 10 in an Australian city.
The government supports multicultural communities and their efforts to improve their conditions, and establish their homes and facilities. Over the years, they have developed these facilities. We have seen the Chinese complex, the Kalymnian Hall, the Greek Community Hall and the Italian Hall. Some of these halls have actually been constructed by the efforts of the migrants themselves. In the case of the Italian Hall, in the 1950s there was a group of Italian migrants who got together, used their skills in building, and they built the original Italian Hall. The same thing applies with the Greek Hall and the Greek Church. As a matter of fact, I have been advised that a number of Chinese labourers worked on the Greek Hall and some of them actually picked up the odd Greek word. I cannot repeat some of them in this House.
We see these facilities now getting a bit old and tired, and they need to be repaired and extended. They have to be maintained but, unfortunately, the cost is quite high and the ethnic communities cannot themselves raise this amount of money, one of the reasons being that the second and third generations have moved away from Darwin, or they do not have the same feeling for the ethnic groups that their fathers and forefathers come from.
The government has received many requests from ethnic communities in the past few years to upgrade and maintain facilities. However, there was no such program in place. In the past, the government would provide money ad hoc to different communities. The Martin government has made available $0.5m per annum for three years to assist the ethnic communities to upgrade, repair and maintain their facilities.
These facilities are not only used by ethnic communities. Many of them hire out to other groups. For example, many people in Darwin have hired the Kalymnian Hall because it is one of the biggest halls in Darwin that can seat about 1000 people. Other people hire the Cypriot Hall. I was present for the Hakka dinner held there. Timorese people also use the Cypriot Hall …
Mr Ah Kit: Italian Club.
Mr VATSKALIS: The Italian Club. I believe my colleague, the member for Millner, had one of his functions at the Kalymnian Hall. These halls are not only for the ethnic community, but the general community of Darwin.
The Ethnic Communities Facility Development Program will offer ethnic communities the ability to put submissions to receive money. With $0.5m a year for three years, I believe the ethnic communities can upgrade their facilities and maintain appropriate standards. This new program increases the money spent for ethnic communities in the Territory by 300% since we came to government. It is a significant increase in the budget, combined with the ethnic communities’ grants and the Linguistic Awards.
The Martin Labor government supports ethnic communities and wants to maintain the multicultural lifestyle of the Territory. Certainly, this $0.5m will provide a lot of work for local contractors and subbies, helping the ethnic communities at the same time as helping the economy.
NT Open Education Centre – Proposed Closure
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Following on from the question from the member for Greatorex, you said that the government did not have a position on the secondary school report and would wait for comments from the public. Minister, could you please explain why the department is speaking to Open Education college staff about redeployment when no decision has been made on the future of this college? Does this mean the review outcomes have already been decided upon by the department, and those who oppose the closure of the NT Open Education college are wasting their time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I am not aware of any discussions that have been held with the NTOEC and the department because, simply, those decisions, as I said very clearly before – and I reiterate – no decisions have been made on any of the recommendations within the secondary report. That includes, most importantly, decisions around NTOEC.
I cannot speak of what discussions have taken place. Any discussions around redeployment or, ‘you are going to lose your job’, would seem to me, to put it politely, premature in advance of the fact that no decisions have been made. No decisions have been made by me or this government and, until we get through to, now, mid-August and the process of consultation is complete, and all of those views are back into the department and digested and come up to us in some form of sensible fashion, that is when we move forward.
Metis Consulting –
Certificate of Exemption
Certificate of Exemption
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for HEALTH
This question is based on information which has just come to hand. Considering the established link between the Labor Party and Metis Consulting, can you explain to the House why, on 21 January 2004, a certificate of exemption was issued to Metis Consulting for a Health department contract? Can you explain why, on 11 June 2003, a certificate of exemption was issued to Metis Consulting Pty Ltd for a Health department contract? Can you explain why, on 18 February 2004, Metis Consulting was issued with a certificate of exemption in relation to a Health department contract? All of these are listed in the government Gazette.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can probably help you with the one I was involved with, which was the one that was done late last year or early this year when I became Minister for Health. As part of the ongoing restructuring of the agency, we are now dealing with regional restructuring of one sort or another through the Northern Territory. When we looked at the information assessment that had to be done of the Central Australian area of the operations of the department, my CEO, Robert Griew, suggested that we should use Metis simply because …
Mr Elferink: Robert Griew, former head of the New South Wales …
Dr TOYNE: You asked the question, you listen to the answer.
Mr Elferink: … AIDS Council, same as Mr Gration.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell!
Dr TOYNE: The reasons …
Mr Elferink: Same job.
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, I cannot go on with this nonsense going on …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr TOYNE: The reason given for Metis being preferred to go on with the work is that they actually did some fairly important preliminary work back when the Bansemer review was being put together for the overall assessment of the Department of Health. The reasons given to me was that the CEO wanted continuity in the work …
Members interjecting.
Dr TOYNE: … and to use the same consultant to guarantee that continuity …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Just wait, minister, until they cease.
Dr TOYNE: I can report that the work done on this consultancy was of high quality and we got the best there is going round. We received some very good analyses.
Sports Events in the Territory
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The Territory government has delivered a sporting extravaganza for Territorians since it was elected. Can you please inform the House how we are adding to our great lifestyle for sports fans this Dry Season?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. Sometimes I sit and wonder whether I will get a question from the opposition. Obviously, there has been a change of shadow portfolios, and I certainly know there is a lot of interest now with the shadow minister because the current one has put his resignation in and is no longer concerned.
Members of this House will be in for, along with other Territorians, a line-up of national and international sporting codes that will visit the Territory over the coming months. We have a great lifestyle in the Territory; it is unique and the best in Australia. To kick things off, we have this weekend’s V8 Supercars, with, as members would have read on the front page of this morning’s paper, a record number of corporate ticket sales. I look forward to enjoying the successes of this fantastic event.
For the first time in Darwin, Territorians will be able to enjoy elite women’s netball at the Marrara Indoor Stadium on Friday, 11 June. The Territory will host a round of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy Netball League, which will feature the Queensland Firebirds up against the Australian Institute of Sport Darters. It will be a very exciting event, with many of our young Territory players able to witness the game due to the Territory championships being played on the same Queen’s Birthday weekend. This game will also provide a unique opportunity for new players to gain access to quality coaching, with both teams to host a clinic the following day. In addition, select Territory netball players will be able to strut their stuff in front of national officials in the Minister’s Challenge Match to be played immediately before the main game.
Again, in June, we will be treated to elite international female athletes competing in an international hockey tournament at the Vodafone Hockey Centre at Marrara. The Territory will play host to not only the Australian women’s team, the Hockeyroos, but teams from Japan and New Zealand, with a fourth team yet to be identified. This tournament is a fantastic pre-Olympic warm-up for our Aussie women, and a fantastic opportunity for Territorians to witness the highest level in the world of this sporting code.
The famous annual Finke Desert Race gets under way in June. Central Australians will again welcome visiting national and international participants and tourists to the Territory with true Territory hospitality. Over the past 28 years, it has built a large reputation, both nationally and internationally. Last year, at least two-thirds of the bike riders …
Mr Dunham: Oh, cricket, Wizard Cup!
Mr AH KIT: Well, it may not interest the member for doom and gloom. The member for doom and gloom sits in here and he whinges during every sittings and he has no interest whatsoever. There are other people out there tuned in to this broadcast who are interested in sport.
In the last two years, at least two-thirds of the bike riders for the Finke Desert Race and one half of car competitors came from interstate, demonstrating the status this event has established among sporting enthusiasts.
Once again, June and July will treat Territorians to international cricket, with the Chief Minister’s XI match being held from 24 to 27 June, and the test match versus Sri Lanka running from 1 to 5 July. I ask members of the opposition if they welcome this event.
A member: Of course we do.
Mr AH KIT: Yes, you do? Well, I would ask you to write to your Prime Minister and tell him to back off, too, because we will lose numbers.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Thank you!
Madam Speaker, preparations are well under way for this prestigious event, and I urge Territorians to get in quick on this one and purchase their tickets, as I know that sales and interest has been high, and that the opposition will get John Howard to back off.
I am very excited that, in July, we will again be treated to the highest level of hockey in the world, with the Australian Kookaburras to play a pre-Olympic series against Korea in Darwin. I congratulate Territory Hockey on their ability to attract such high-profile events, and for their work with my office of Sport and Recreation to ensure these events are going to be a success.
I also anticipate that international soccer will be seen at Marrara Oval in August. Four international Under-21 soccer teams - Red Star, Everton, Barcelona and Shandong Luneng, a team from China - will travel to Darwin to compete in an international challenge. Speaking of China, it is lovely to be wearing my dragon boat tie, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, it is a nice tie, minister, very nice.
Mr AH KIT: Soccer enthusiasts and Territory sports people will have an opportunity to enjoy international soccer played at that level.
We also have, for my colleagues, the Darwin Cup Carnival, and we then go to 14 August, when we have AFL premiership points being played for the first time ever; that is, Port Power versus the Western Bulldogs. I was very honoured to play host recently to many of the sponsors of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and this fixture has generated much interest in what the Territory business market and tourism has to offer. What a great spin-off! This type of outcome is evidence that the Martin Labor government understands the whole range of impacts that sporting fixtures can have.
What a sporting extravaganza! Let us not forget, in between events, you can always drop a line and hook a ruddy great fish in our waters and waterways.
Madam Speaker, living in the Territory is great, as I am sure you will agree.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, when did you say you are bringing the Melbourne Football Club to Darwin, particularly when you have one very good player from Darwin playing in it at the moment?
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Metis Consulting – Certificate of Exemption
Metis Consulting – Certificate of Exemption
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I wish to provide the additional information I said I would.
I am prepared to do something absolutely unprecedented, I believe, in the history of this parliament, and actually table a commissioner’s briefing from the Police Commissioner to myself as Minister for Police, in order to clear the commissioner’s name in regards to the allegations that the member for Macdonnell has made.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is suggesting I have made an allegation, and I have made none against the commissioner.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, would you resume your seat and allow the minister can finish his answer. I will ignore that.
Mr HENDERSON: Maybe the member for Macdonnell does not know because he was never a minister, but certainly members opposite who have been ministers in the past would know the process under which a certificate of exemption is granted. That process requires agency CEOs to provide good reason to ministers for a CofE in the various categories, and the CEO of the relevant agency to provide signatures along with the minister. And yes, I did sign this CofE.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the allegation here is that the Police Commissioner is some part of a Labor Party conspiracy. I need to clear his name and put this brief onto the Parliamentary Record. I will read from the brief and then I will table it.
This is a recommendation from the commissioner to myself:
- That you sign the attached certificate of exemption from Public Tenders in relation to the appointment of Metis Consultants to conduct the assessment of organisational effectiveness in human resource management systems within the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service.
Background
- It has been recognised that there is a need to conduct an assessment of organisational effectiveness on human resource management Systems within the NTFRS including an urgent requirement to update our systems to be able to respond to the changing nature of fire and rescue services. The industrial relations environment and human resource management systems in the NTFRS are very resistant to necessary changes and will require expert and sustained management for a significant period of time while change strategies are developed and implemented. Hence, the need to engage the services of specialist consultants experienced and skilled in change management in this difficult industrial relations environment.
- Three specialist consultant organisations were asked to present a submission in relation to the draft terms of reference for the assessment. Due to the nature and urgency of the industrial situation, it was felt that there was insufficient time to go through the public tender process.
Mr Baldwin: And that would ring alarm bells for any minister.
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Daly should listen.
Mr Baldwin: That would ring alarm bells!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly! Order!
- Mr HENDERSON: Two of these consultancy organisations were brought to Darwin and met with myself, the Commissioner for Public Employment, John Kirwan, the Acting Director of the NTFRS, Bob Naumann, and Director of Human Resource Management, John O’Leary.
- After meeting with the two organisations, it was decided that Metis Consulting were the consultants with the best mix of skills and experience to undertake the assessment. Due to the urgency of commencing the assessment, your endorsement for a certificate of exemption is sought to allow the selected consultants to commence in the week ending 15 August 2003.
What would a minister of the Crown opposite do? Would he say: ‘No, we are not going to take the recommendation. I am not going to take the recommendation of the Police Commissioner, and I am going to make my own decision. I am going to wheel the consultancy in here myself. I am going to interview these consultants and I am going to make a decision in regards to who we are engaging’.
The sustained allegations on the integrity of our Police Commissioner by the member for Macdonnell is that the Police Commissioner is some part of a grubby Labor mates conspiracy. Well, that is not the case. I have the utmost respect for the integrity of our Police Commissioner. The Police Commissioner put a brief to me, which I signed off on, as any competent minister would in an independent process of a hands-off relationship between the Police Commissioner and the Police minister. This was an operational issue.
It was certainly identified that we had a very dire situation in relation to the industrial relations environment within our Fire Service, an environment which was patently neglected by members opposite, and previous ministers, for many years. Metis Consulting came in and did a fantastic job; they got to the heart of the issues in that organisation. They are very well respected and regarded ...
Mr BALDWIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister was asked to provide the information on two certificates of exemptions, and, so far, he has only provided it on one. There were two separate CofEs for Metis on the same issue.
Mr HENDERSON: I am providing the advice as I have it at this point in time.
Mr Baldwin: No, there are two different ones!
Mr HENDERSON: Well, if you want to go through it again - if there are …
Mr Baldwin: There are.
Mr HENDERSON: … then the process is that ministers act on advice of CEOs. If you want to drag …
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If it assists the minister, I can table the government Gazettes of 31 March and 3 September, in which Metis Consulting is given two separate certificates of exemption totalling $357 000. I seek leave to table it, Madam Speaker.
Leave granted.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, at the end of Question Time, you just had to provide the information. This debate has gone on long enough.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016